Syria pays for U.S. Embassy damage

LONDON, Feb. 28 (JTA) — Syria has formally apologized and paid $500,000 for damages caused by last December’s attack on the U.S. Embassy and ambassador’s residence in Damascus, according to the London-based Saudi newspaper al-Hayat. The paper quoted unnamed U.S. State Department officials as saying Syria’s moves, coupled with a pledge that such episodes would not occur again, have “put an end to the diplomatic tension” between the two countries. The embassy is reportedly resuming partial consular services suspended after the attack, which occurred during U.S.-led air and missile strikes on Iraq. During anti-American demonstrations, Syrian protesters forced their way into the embassy compound, threw rocks and tore down the American flag, while others stormed the residence of U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Syria has also been trying to mend its fences with Jordan. Following the unexpected attendance of Syrian President Hafez Assad at the Feb. 8 funeral of Jordan’s King Hussein, Assad’s son and heir apparent, Bashar, visited Amman late last week to offer his personal condolences to Hussein’s successor, King Abdullah.